US10137628B2 - Dual tenter clip and table assembly and transverse sheet stretching plant comprising same - Google Patents

Dual tenter clip and table assembly and transverse sheet stretching plant comprising same Download PDF

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Publication number
US10137628B2
US10137628B2 US14/277,307 US201414277307A US10137628B2 US 10137628 B2 US10137628 B2 US 10137628B2 US 201414277307 A US201414277307 A US 201414277307A US 10137628 B2 US10137628 B2 US 10137628B2
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Prior art keywords
tenter clip
stretching
tenter
clip body
polymer material
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US20140339728A1 (en
Inventor
Pierre ROUSSAT
Yannick BEJAT
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Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH and Co KG
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Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH and Co KG
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Publication of US20140339728A1 publication Critical patent/US20140339728A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C55/00—Shaping by stretching, e.g. drawing through a die; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C55/02—Shaping by stretching, e.g. drawing through a die; Apparatus therefor of plates or sheets
    • B29C55/20—Edge clamps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C55/00—Shaping by stretching, e.g. drawing through a die; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C55/02—Shaping by stretching, e.g. drawing through a die; Apparatus therefor of plates or sheets
    • B29C55/04—Shaping by stretching, e.g. drawing through a die; Apparatus therefor of plates or sheets uniaxial, e.g. oblique
    • B29C55/08—Shaping by stretching, e.g. drawing through a die; Apparatus therefor of plates or sheets uniaxial, e.g. oblique transverse to the direction of feed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2101/00—Use of unspecified macromolecular compounds as moulding material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
    • B29K2105/25—Solid
    • B29K2105/253—Preform
    • B29K2105/256—Sheets, plates, blanks or films
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
    • B29K2995/0037—Other properties
    • B29K2995/005—Oriented

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the technology of stretching material sheets or films, particularly stretching polymer material sheets or films, on stretching plants.
  • the present invention relates to the field of processes of stretching material sheets or films, particularly polymer material sheets or films, on such stretching plants in the transverse direction, and also relates to devices improving the transverse stretching of polymer material sheets or films, which devices form part of the overall stretching plant.
  • the first step of an overall process of fabricating oriented films comprising polymer materials is an extrusion, through a die, of a film of a molten polymer onto a roll (“chill roll”), the surface of which is kept at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the respective polymer.
  • the roll surface quenches the polymer into an amorphous state.
  • a subsequent step of said process comprises steps of stretching the film previously generated by well-known methods in the longitudinal (machine) direction and/or in the transverse direction, the latter being a stretching step in a direction perpendicular to the machine direction, commonly. These stretching steps may be performed one after the other or may be performed simultaneously, or even only one stretching step may be performed, e. g. in the transverse direction.
  • the stretching process itself is carried out by two machine units, usually first in the longitudinal/machine direction (i. e. in the direction of the travelling path of the polymer film on the stretching device) and then in the transverse direction.
  • a stretching action in the longitudinal (machine) direction and transverse direction needs the simultaneous application of stretching forces to the film material in two directions (usually perpendicular to each other), while the film is moving with high speed along a moving path of the film on a stretching plant or stretching device.
  • the polymer film is moved along a longitudinal path on said stretching plant or stretching device by carriages, a large number of which are fixed to, and drawn by, endless chains to run on rails on both sides of said longitudinal path either on wheels or on gliding members between the carriages and the rails.
  • Two opposite lateral edges of the polymer film are fixed to said two opposite carriages on tenter tables by means of clamps, said carriages stretching the polymer film in the longitudinal direction and—as the case may be—stretching the film also—or exclusively—in the transverse direction.
  • the drawn polymer film is “heat set” or crystallized under tension and with a temperature gradient starting at elevated temperatures and continuing to decreased temperatures.
  • the heat setting step prevents the film from shrinking back to its unstretched shape and “locks” the molecular orientation in the polymer film plane.
  • the orientation of the polymer molecule chains thus obtained is responsible for the high strength and stiffness of the oriented film.
  • polymer crystal nuclei is induced.
  • the crystallites grow rapidly and reach the boundary of neighbouring crystallites. Their size is smaller than the wavelength of the visible light.
  • oriented polymer films have an excellent clarity, despite the semi-crystalline structure of the polymer units.
  • polymer films obtained by simultaneous biaxial stretching have excellent mechanical and optical properties and, hence, are highly valued.
  • the clamps fixing both lateral edges of the polymer film on the tenter tables of the carriages release the film from the tenter tables, and the film produced and stretched is coiled on a film storage roll or is further processed, while the carriages with their clamps released from the tenter tables return to the starting point of the stretching process for another stretching cycle.
  • stretching plants or stretching devices for transversely stretching polymer films are in operation.
  • Such plants or devices are described in the document WO-A 2004/108,395, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, which relates to polymer sheet stretching systems using a series of gripping means for the support, transport and drawing of a polymer film to be stretched.
  • Such gripping means are supported and guided by rails and driven by endless chains.
  • Each chain is driven by two toothed wheels of large diameter, one wheel being located at the beginning of the forward run and the other wheel being located at the rear end of the return run of the chain.
  • Each wheel is provided with motorised rotational drive means, said drive means being synchronised with each other.
  • Such a drive device finds application in high speed drawing machines.
  • the distance between the centers of two consecutive pins 53 defining the chain links' rotational axis is indicated to be “P”.
  • the one long tenter table extending over almost two chain links, having a length of slightly shorter than 2 P (wherein “P” is the pitch as defined above) and fixing the polymer web by means of the one clip creates a certain rigidity of the polymer web fixation, resulting often in wrinkles of the polymer web generated in the process of stretchingly moving the web. Such wrinkles deteriorate the stretched polymer web's quality and, hence, are not desired.
  • the present invention provides a dual tenter clip and table assembly ( 10 ) for moving, by means of an endless chain ( 50 ) consisting of alternating pairs of first or outer chain links ( 51 ) and pairs of second or inner chain links ( 52 ) rotatably connected by means of pins ( 53 ) arranged in parallel to the plane of the rail ( 60 ) and perpendicular to the direction of the endless chain's movement, a polymer material web ( 100 ) on a stretching plant or stretching device for stretching said polymer material web ( 100 ) at least in a transverse direction (T), said assembly comprising
  • the present invention further provides a transverse sheet stretching plant ( 200 ) for stretching a polymer material web ( 100 ) at least in a transverse direction, said plant comprising
  • the present invention also provides a process for stretching a polymer material sheet ( 100 ) at least in a transverse direction, said process comprising
  • FIG. 1A shows a top view of a common configuration, in a stretching plant or stretching device, of the rail, on which carriages carrying a tenter table and a tenter clip are moved, and of the endless chain by means of which the movement of said carriages is effected;
  • FIG. 1B shows a side view of said same configuration shown in FIG. 1A , especially showing the alternating pairs of first/outer chain links and pairs of second/inner chain links of the endless chain.
  • FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of a dual tenter clip and table assembly of the invention as moved along the rail by means of the endless chain in the course of drawing a polymer material web;
  • FIG. 3 shows a top view of the same preferred embodiment of a dual tenter clip and table assembly of the invention as shown in FIG. 2 , wherein the pitch P (i. e. the distance between the centers of two consecutive pins 53 defining the chain links' rotational axis) and the tenter table length TL are exemplarily shown;
  • the pitch P i. e. the distance between the centers of two consecutive pins 53 defining the chain links' rotational axis
  • TL tenter table length
  • FIG. 4 shows a perspective backside view of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention, and particularly showing the fixation of the main tenter clip body 20 to the first chain links 51 of the endless chain 50 and the fixation of the secondary tenter clip body 30 to the second chain links 52 of the endless chain 50 ;
  • FIG. 5A shows a top side plan view of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention, said view being similar to the view of FIG. 3 , but also showing, by two broken lines indicated with “ 6 A” and “ 6 B” and “ 7 ”, the positions of sectional views of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 7 ;
  • FIG. 5B shows an enlarged top side view of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention as shown in FIG. 5A , specifically of the area where the outer walls of the main tenter clip body 20 and the secondary tenter clip body 30 opposite to each other are closely adjacent;
  • FIG. 6A shows a sectional plan view of the main tenter clip body part of FIG. 5A at “ 6 A”;
  • FIG. 6B shows a sectional plan view of the main clip body part of FIG. 5A at “ 6 B”;
  • FIG. 7 shows a sectional plan view of the secondary tenter clip body part of FIG. 5A at “ 7 ”;
  • FIG. 8A shows a top side plan view of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention, where two pairs of the dual main tenter clip body-secondary tenter clip body assembly 10 are combined;
  • FIG. 8B shows top side plan view of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention, where three pairs of the dual main tenter clip body-secondary tenter clip body assembly 10 are combined.
  • FIGS. 1A, 1B and FIG. 2 Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A, 1B and FIG. 2 .
  • the first chain links 51 of the endless chain 50 are shown in bold lines in order to (optically and in the FIG.s) distinguish them from the second chain links 52 of the endless chain 50 , which are shown in commonly printed lines.
  • FIG. 1A shows a top view of a common configuration, in a stretching plant or stretching device, of the rail 60 , on which carriages carrying a tenter table and a tenter clip are moved, and of the endless chain 50 by means of which the movement of said carriages is effected.
  • the pins connecting consecutive pairs of first links 51 and second links 52 in a rotatable manner are shown to have the reference numeral “ 53 ”.
  • These connecting pins 53 are positioned in parallel to the plane of the rail 60 and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the endless chain 50 in holes close to the upstream and downstream ends of each of the chain links 51 , 52 .
  • FIGS. 1A and 1B the pins 53 connecting the consecutive pairs of outer and inner chain links 51 , 52 in a rotatable manner (i. e. allowing a rotation of first chain link around the pin 53 connecting the first chain link to the second chain link) are shown at the right side part of the endless chain segment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B , only, while the pins are omitted for reasons of clarity of the FIGs at the respective left side parts of the chain segments shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B .
  • FIG. 1B shows a side view of said same configuration as in FIG. 1A , especially showing the alternating pairs of first chain links 51 and pairs of second chain links 52 of the endless chain 50 exemplarily.
  • chain links 51 indicated above to be “the first chain links” may be the “outer” chain links
  • chain links 52 indicated to be “the second chain links” may be the “inner” chain links.
  • chain links 51 indicated above to be “the first chain links” may be the “inner” chain links
  • chain links 52 indicated to be “the second chain links” may be the “outer” chain links.
  • chain links 51 indicated above to be “the first chain links” are the “outer” chain links
  • chain links 52 indicated to be “the second chain links” are the “inner” chain links
  • outer and inner relate, in this connection, to a view along the endless chain 50 when moving along the rail 60 :
  • a pair of first, or outer, chain links 51 (shown in FIG. 1B ) take the uppermost and lowermost positions of chain links in the course of the endless chain 50
  • a pair of second, or inner, chain links 52 take an intermediate position between the two first/outer chain links 51 .
  • FIG. 2 shows a perspective overall view of one preferred embodiment of a dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention as moved along the rail 60 by means of the endless chain 50 in the course of drawing a polymer material web 100 at least in the transverse direction, which is the direction perpendicular to the rail 60 .
  • FIG. 2 one preferred embodiment of the invention as described below can be seen in detail, which embodiment is shown schematically also in FIGS. 3 and 5 a :
  • the main tenter clip body carriage 22 is moved along the rail 60 while running on wheels. These wheels have a larger diameter on the side of the rail 60 which is opposite to the side on which the main tenter body carriage 22 has the tenter clip 28 and the tenter table 26 .
  • the advantage of such an embodiment is that such large diameter wheels may easily bear the forces resulting from the stretching step on the opposite side of the rail 60 , while the smaller diameter wheels on the side of the rail where the stretching step is conducted serve a smooth guiding of the main tenter clip body carriage 22 .
  • cost savings and a lower weight of this embodiment may be advantageous.
  • FIG. 3 shows a top view of the same preferred embodiment of a dual tenter clip and table assembly of the invention as shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the pitch P i. e. the distance between the centers of two consecutive pins 53 defining the chain links' rotational axis
  • the tenter table length TL are exemplarily shown.
  • the tenter table to which the polymer material web 100 was fixed for stretching by means of tenter clips had a length extending almost over two chain links.
  • one tenter table had a length of almost 2P or, in specific embodiments, exactly, 1.5 P to 1.96 P.
  • This caused problems particularly in cases where tenter tables holding attached the edge of a polymer material web had to be moved around curves along the path of the polymer film during the stretching step: Often wrinkles were observed in the polymer film, thereby deteriorating the polymer film's optical and strength quality.
  • one tenter table of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 has a length (tenter table length TL) of slightly less than 1P (wherein P is the pitch of the endless chain 50 ), more preferably from 0.75 P to 0.98 P (i. e. 0.75 P ⁇ TL ⁇ 0.98 P), and even more preferably from 0.90 P to 0.94 P (i. e. 0.90 P ⁇ TL ⁇ 0.94 P).
  • the tenter table length of the main tenter clip body tenter table 26 may be identical to or different from the tenter table length of the secondary tenter clip body tenter table 36 .
  • the tenter table length of the main tenter clip body tenter table 26 is identical to the tenter table length of the secondary tenter clip body tenter table 36 .
  • FIG. 5A shows a top side plan view of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention, said view being similar to the view of FIG. 3 .
  • FIG. 6A , FIG. 6B and FIG. 7 show several sectional plan views of the main tenter clip body part of FIG. 5A at “ 6 A” and “ 6 B” and of the secondary tenter clip body part of FIG. 5A at “ 7 ”.
  • the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the present invention comprises a main tenter clip body 20 .
  • the wheels 24 a , 24 b , 24 c , . . . 24 n are capable of moving the main tenter clip body carriage 22 along a rail 60 .
  • the movement of all main tenter clip body carriages 22 and secondary tenter clip body carriages 32 is effected by means of said endless chain 50 , to which the main tenter clip body carriage 22 and the secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 are fixed.
  • the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention is guided on a plurality of wheels 24 a , 24 b , 24 c , . . . along the rail 60 and is moved forward along the rail 60 by an endless chain 50 driven, in a conventional manner, by suitable driving wheels around which the endless chains 50 are promoted.
  • the chain 50 with its first and second, (e. g. outer and inner) chain links 51 , 52 rotatably connected to each other by vertical pins 53 is capable of engaging with the sprockets of the driving wheels, thereby bringing about a controllable movement of the endless chain 50 and, simultaneously, of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention.
  • all wheels of said plurality of wheels 24 a , 24 b , 24 c , . . . , on which the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention is guided along the rail 60 are mounted to the main tenter clip body carriage 22 .
  • the movement of the main tenter clip body carriages 22 is effected on both types of wheels, those with a vertical and those with a horizontal rotational axis.
  • the main tenter clip body carriages 22 are run on a number of up to ten wheels, even more preferred are run on a number of nine wheels the majority of which are wheels having vertical rotational axes and are arranged in direct contact with the rail 60 on the rail's two vertical surfaces. Even more preferred and as can be learnt from FIG. 2 , there is a quartet of upper horizontal wheels and a quartet of lower horizontal wheels opposite the quartet of upper horizontal wheels.
  • the ninth wheel ( FIGS. 2, 4 : 24 c ) is rotating around a horizontal rotational axis along the edge of the rail 60 , as does a tenth wheel ( FIG. 4 : 24 d ).
  • the latter lower wheel 24 d is found at a restricted number of main tenter clip body carriages 22 , only, for example at every fifth main tenter clip body carriage 22 and is moving under the lower edge of the rail 60 and serves keeping the carriage 22 on track.
  • the forward movement forces are transmitted to the main tenter clip body carriage 22 by its fixation, by a vertical pin 29 , to the first chain link 51 of the endless chain 50 (e. g. as shown in the FIG.s: to the outer chain link 51 of the endless chain 50 ). It is also possible that the forward movement forces exerted by the chain 50 are transmitted to the main tenter clip body carriage 22 by its fixation, by a vertical pin 29 , to an inner chain link 52 of the endless chain 50 (which embodiment is not shown in the FIGs).
  • the secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 In contrast to the main tenter clip body carriage 22 , the secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 is not moving on wheels guided along the rail 60 , but is moving due to its fixation to the second chain link 52 of the endless chain 50 , only. Also in the case of the secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 , the fixation to the endless chain 50 , in this case to the second chain links 52 , or inner chain links 52 , of the endless chain 50 , is effected by a vertical pin 39 , in a manner similar to the fixation of the main tenter clip body carriage 22 to the first chain links 51 .
  • the forward movement forces are transmitted to the main tenter clip body carriage 22 by its fixation, by a vertical pin 29 , to the first, or outer, chain link 51 of the endless chain 50 (e. g. as shown in the FIGs), while the forward movement forces are transmitted to the secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 by its fixation, by a vertical pin 39 , to the second chain link 52 of the endless chain 50 (e. g. as shown in the FIGs: to the inner chain link 52 of the endless chain 50 )
  • the vertical fixation pin 39 may be smaller than the vertical pin 29 used for the fixation of the main tenter clip body 20 to the outer chain links 51 of the endless chain 50 . This is, however, not restricting the invention.
  • said carriage 22 of the main tenter clip body 20 further comprises a tenter table 26 onto which a polymer material web 100 or polymer film 100 to be stretched is fixed by at least one tenter clip 28 and preferably one tenter clip 28 .
  • the person skilled in this technical field may freely select the position of the tenter table 26 and tenter clip(s) 28 in accordance with specific requirements of the case.
  • the tenter table 26 and the (preferably one) tenter clip 28 are located on the side of the main clip body carriage 22 which is opposite to the “rail” side of said carriage 22 , thereby allowing a stable fixation of the polymer material web 100 or polymer film 100 to the mail tenter clip body carriage 22 in the course of the stretching step.
  • the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the present invention further comprises a secondary tenter clip body 30 .
  • the secondary tenter clip body 30 comprises a secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 which is moved along the rail 60 by means of the endless chain 50 to which the secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 is fixed.
  • said carriage 32 of the secondary tenter clip body 30 further comprises a tenter table 36 onto which a polymer material web 100 or polymer film 100 to be stretched is fixed by at least one tenter clip 38 , preferably by one tenter clip 38 .
  • the person skilled in this technical field may freely select the position of the tenter table 36 and tenter clip(s) 38 in accordance with specific requirements of the case.
  • the tenter table 36 and the tenter clip(s) 38 are located on the side of the secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 which is opposite to the “rail” side of said carriage 32 , thereby allowing a stable fixation of the polymer material web 100 or polymer film 100 to the secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 in the course of the stretching step, too.
  • the terms “main” and “secondary” in combination with the respective tenter clip bodies 20 , 30 should not be construed to imply that either of these has a major or minor importance for the functions of the invention. These terms are selected simply for distinguishing the two tenter clip bodies 20 , 30 and might imply that, preferably, the former one has a (relatively) larger overall size and/or weight, and the latter one has a (relatively) smaller overall size and/or weight. Both of these tenter clip bodies 20 , 30 are of eminent importance for the functions of the present invention.
  • the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention is for moving a polymer material web 100 or polymer film 100 on a stretching plant or stretching device for stretching said polymer material web 100 or polymer film 100 at least in a transverse direction T, which is the direction perpendicular to the rail 60 .
  • Such moving of the polymer material web 100 or polymer film 100 for stretching is effected by means of an endless chain 50 .
  • said endless chain 50 consists of consecutively arranged alternating pairs of first chain links 51 and pairs of second chain links 52 .
  • the above first chain links are the outer chain links 51 in the sense defined above, while the above second chain links are the inner chain links 52 in the sense defined above. All said chain links are rotatably connected to each other by means of pins 53 arranged in parallel to the plane of the rail 60 and perpendicular to the direction of the endless chain's movement.
  • stretching said polymer material web 100 at least in a transverse direction is intended to address that, with the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention, a step of stretching the polymer material web 100 in a transverse direction (i. e. in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rail 60 ) is carried out in any case.
  • a stretching step or to stretching steps in the longitudinal direction separately, e. g. before and/or after said transverse direction stretching step with the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 .
  • the endless chains 50 are driven by wheels positioned suitably at the entrance of the stretching plant or stretching device and at the exit of the stretching plant or stretching device at suitable points.
  • the speeds by which the wheels driving the endless chains are circulated are adapted suitably and may be equal or may be different.
  • FIGS. 2 and 4 show, in perspective and plan back side views, the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 and, specifically show how a main tenter clip body 20 is fixed to the first/outer chain links 51 of the endless chain 50 and how a secondary tenter clip body 30 is fixed to the second/inner chain links 52 of the endless chain 50 .
  • the carriage 22 of the main tenter clip body 20 is fixed to a first/an outer chain link 51 of the endless chain 50 by means of a vertical pin 29 .
  • a vertical pin 29 in accordance with the invention, is positioned in parallel to the pins 53 connecting first and second/outer and inner chain links 51 , 52 of the endless chain 50 and is passing through at least one structural part of the main tenter clip body 20 .
  • the vertical pin 29 may be fixed to the first/outer chain links 51 of the endless chain by means known to a person skilled in this technical field. Hence, the skilled person may select such means in accordance with the specific requirements of the case.
  • the fixation may be achieved by means of bolts screwed to the ends of the vertical pins 29 .
  • each suitable fixation method may be applied, as long as it results into a secure fixation of the main tenter clip body 20 to the first/outer chain links 51 .
  • Such a fixation of the main tenter clip body 20 with its carriage 22 to the first/outer chain links 51 of the endless chain has the advantage that, due to the flat faces of the outer links 51 of the endless chain 50 , the main tenter clip body 20 and its carriage 22 is prevented from rotating around the longitudinal axis of the vertical pin 29 , thereby securing the position of the main tenter clip body 20 and its carriage 22 and achieving a uniform stretching of a polymer material web 100 or polymer film in the whole stretching step.
  • the carriage 32 of the secondary tenter clip body 30 is fixed to a second/an inner chain link 52 of the endless chain 50 by means of a vertical pin 39 .
  • a vertical pin 39 in accordance with the invention, is positioned in parallel to the pins 53 connecting first and second/outer and inner chain links 51 , 52 of the endless chain 50 and is passing through at least one structural part of the secondary tenter clip body 30 .
  • the vertical pin 39 may be fixed to the second/inner chain links 52 of the endless chain 50 by means known to a person skilled in this technical field. Hence, the skilled person may select such means in accordance with the specific requirements of the case.
  • the fixation may be achieved by means of bolts screwed to the ends of the vertical pins 39 .
  • each suitable fixation method may be applied, as long as it results into a secure fixation of the secondary tenter clip body 30 to the second/inner chain links 52 .
  • Such a fixation of the secondary tenter clip body 30 with its carriage 32 to the second/inner chain links 52 of the endless chain 50 has the advantage that the secondary tenter clip body 30 and its carriage 32 is prevented from rotating around the longitudinal axis of the vertical pin 39 , thereby securing the position of the secondary tenter clip body 30 and its carriage 32 and achieving a uniform stretching of a polymer material web 100 or polymer film in the whole stretching step.
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B (being sectional views of the main tenter clip body area of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention as shown in FIG. 5A at “ 6 A” and “ 6 B”) show that, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main tenter clip body carriage 22 has an approximate shape of its section, seen in the direction of the carriage movement along the rail 60 , of a letter “C”.
  • the “upper arm” 22 a , “back” 22 b and “lower leg” 22 c of the approximate letter “C” shape of the main tenter clip body carriage 22 as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B in detail are positioned, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, in a perpendicular position relative to each other and are capable securing an enhanced rigidity of the main tenter clip body 20 in the course of the stretching step.
  • the “upper arm” 22 a and the “lower leg” 22 c of the main tenter clip body carriage's letter “C” shape provide a support for a fixation, by means of said vertical pin 29 , of the main tenter clip body carriage 22 to the first/outer chain links 51 of the endless chain 50 .
  • Such support for the fixation may be any support a skilled person in this technical field would provide and select in accordance with the conditions of the specific case.
  • the vertical pin 29 may be secured by guiding it through suitable holes in the first/outer chain links 51 and in the upper arm 22 a and lower leg 22 b of the approximate letter “C” shape main tenter clip body carriage 22 and then fixing the vertical pin 29 , for example by suitable nuts. In such a manner, the main tenter clip body 20 is prevented from rotating around the vertical pin axis, thereby allowing a smooth stretching step.
  • the back part 22 b of the main tenter clip body carriage's letter “C” may carry the tenter table 26 and the tenter clip 28 .
  • FIG. 7 (being a sectional view of the secondary tenter clip body area of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention as shown in FIG. 5A at “ 7 ”) shows that, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 has an approximate shape of its section, seen in the direction of the carriage movement along the rail 60 , of a letter “C”.
  • the “upper arm” 32 a , “back” 32 b and “lower leg” 32 c of the approximate letter “C” shape of the secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 as shown in FIG. 7 in detail are positioned, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, in a perpendicular position relative to each other and are capable securing an enhanced rigidity of the secondary tenter clip body 30 in the course of the stretching step.
  • the “upper arm” 32 a and the “lower leg” 32 c of the secondary tenter clip body carriage's letter “C” shape provide a support for a fixation, by means of said vertical pin 39 , of the secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 to the secondary/inner chain links 52 of the endless chain 50 .
  • Such support for the fixation may be any support a skilled person in this technical field would provide and select in accordance with the conditions of the specific case.
  • the vertical pin 39 may be secured by guiding it through suitable holes in the second/inner chain links 52 and in the upper arm 23 a and lower leg 32 b of the approximate letter “C” shape secondary tenter clip body carriage 32 and then fixing the vertical pin 39 , for example by suitable nuts.
  • the back part 32 b of the secondary tenter clip body carriage's letter “C” may carry the tenter table 36 and the tenter clip 38 .
  • FIGS. 8A and 8B show top side plan views of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention, where two pairs of the dual main tenter clip body-secondary tenter clip body assembly 10 ( FIG. 8A ) or three pairs of the dual main tenter clip body-secondary tenter clip body assembly 10 ( FIG. 8B ) are combined.
  • the main tenter clip body 20 and its carriage 22 , on the one hand, and the secondary tenter clip body 30 and its carriage 32 , on the other hand, are separate elements of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the present invention. They are connected to each other indirectly, only, i. e. via their respective fixation to the first/outer chain links 51 and second/inner chain links 52 of the endless chain 50 .
  • a certain flexibility of the overall assembly 10 is achieved, due to the rotatable connection of the chain links 51 , 52 of the endless chain 50 .
  • the result is a decrease and even minimization of a wrinkle formation of the polymer material web 100 in the course of the stretching step when the bodies comprising the tenter clips have to pass curvatures of the rails during the stretching step.
  • the tenter table length was shortened from values just below 2 P (wherein P is the pitch of the endless chain 50 ), specifically from values of 1.5 P to 1.96 P, to values of from 0.75 P to 0.98 P, even more preferably to values of from 0.9 P to 0.94 P. Also the shorter tenter table lengths minimize the wrinkle formation at the polymer material web 100 when the dual tenter clip and table assembly of the invention has to pass curves of the rails 50 in the course of the stretching step.
  • the outer walls of the main tenter clip body carriages 22 opposing the outer walls of the secondary tenter clip body carriages 32 and the outer walls of the secondary tenter clip body carriages 32 opposing the outer walls of the main tenter clip body carriages 22 to have an oppositely shaped curvature. This can be seen from FIGS. 3, 5A, 8A and 8B and, as an enlarged detail, in FIG. 5B .
  • FIG. 5B shows in enlarged detail that the outer walls 20 a of the main tenter clip body carriages 22 opposing the outer walls 30 a of the secondary tenter clip body carriages 32 and the outer walls of the secondary tenter clip body carriages 32 opposing the outer walls of the main tenter clip body carriages 22 to have an oppositely shaped curvature.
  • a convex shape of the outer walls of the main tenter clip body carriages 22 and a concave shape of the opposing outer walls of the intermediate secondary tenter clip body carriages 32 are capable of preventing a contact of the outer walls of the secondary tenter clip body carriages 32 to the outer walls of the adjacent main tenter clip body carriages 22 .
  • the chains drawing the carriages and the wheels on which the carriages are running along the rails are lubricated with a suitable lubricant, e. g. a suitable oil.
  • a suitable lubricant e. g. a suitable oil.
  • a reliable prevention of spilling or leaking of even minor amounts of lubricant/oil from the chains or wheels to the polymer sheet is achieved by the walls which walls, even more preferably, are equipped with baffles to prevent lubricant/oil leakages.
  • the invention also relates to another preferred embodiment which may be realized in the dual tenter clip and table assembly separately or in combination with one or more of the other features explained above in detail, wherein the tenter clips 28 , 38 capable of fixing the polymer material web 100 to be stretched on the tenter tables 26 , 36 are capable of being actuated mechanically or electronically before the beginning or after the end of the stretching cycle.
  • This feature is advantageous because the start and termination of the stretching cycle accompanied by the steps of grasping the polymer material web 100 at its edges and of releasing the polymer material web from the tenter clip bodies may be actuated automatically.
  • the invention also relates to a transverse sheet stretching plant or stretching device 200 for stretching a polymer material web 100 at least in a transverse direction, said plant comprising
  • the invention also relates to a process for stretching a polymer material sheet 100 at least in a transverse direction, said process comprising
  • the above transverse sheet stretching plant 200 of the present invention for stretching a polymer material web 100 at least in a transverse direction and the above process according to the present invention for stretching a polymer material sheet 100 at least in a transverse direction a person skilled in the present technical field very well knows a number of means and devices, on the one hand, and process steps, on the other hand, which may be used in the plant or device 200 of the invention or which may be performed in the process of stretching a polymer material web 100 or polymer film 100 in order to achieve the desired purpose of obtaining a suitably stretched polymer material web or polymer film 100 after at least a step of stretching such a polymer in a transverse direction.
  • the skilled person may select, in accordance with the circumstances, such means or devices, on the one hand, and such process steps, on the other hand, in order to adapt the plant or device 200 or the process for stretching to the desired parameters.
  • Non-exhaustive examples are the following:
  • the polymer to be stretched may be provided from polymer materials commonly used, which are very well known to a skilled person in this technical field and may, hence, be selected in an appropriate manner in accordance, for example, with the final use requirements.
  • Such polymers are formed in/on usual devices (non-exhaustive examples of which are extruders and suitable polymer tube blowers) to polymer material webs, sheets or films.
  • Such films are, usually in a continuous manner, but possibly also discontinuously, i. e. after an intermediate storage in the form of, for example, storage rolls, fed to temperature-adjusting means, for example ovens, heated air heaters, heated rollers or similar devices suitable, in accordance with the knowledge a skilled person in this field may have, to adjust the temperature of the polymer to such a temperature or temperature range at which a stretching process may be performed.
  • temperature-adjusting means for example ovens, heated air heaters, heated rollers or similar devices suitable, in accordance with the knowledge a skilled person in this field may have, to adjust the temperature of the polymer to such a temperature or temperature range at which a stretching process may be performed.
  • the heated polymer material web is fed, usually also in a continuous manner in order to make use of the suitable temperature adjustment in the previous step, to the stretching plant or stretching device 200 .
  • the construction and specific configuration of such a plant or device 200 mainly depends on the specific stretching operation desired to be carried out.
  • the stretching device has a longitudinal path along which the polymer material web 100 or polymer film 100 to be stretched is guided. Suitable rolls at the entrance and exit of said path may condition the polymer to be stretched.
  • a number of rails usually one rail on each side of the polymer path, is provided.
  • Such rails are used to move on them means gripping the side edges of the polymer material sheet and, while moving in the longitudinal direction, stretching the polymer material web or polymer film 100 in the transverse direction.
  • This is conducted in methods and by means generally known to a skilled person, who may select the suitable means and process steps to carry out the stretching step.
  • One (non-restricting) example is a diverging course of the rails from the center of the machine-direction course of the sheet to the outside in the plane of the polymer sheet usually.
  • the means for gripping the side edges of the polymer sheet before, during and after the stretching step usually include tenter tables and tenter clips mounted to suitable carriages.
  • Such carriages are running on the rails on both sides of the polymer sheet either on rolls or on gliding means, which running movement may be supported by suitable technical substances reducing the friction of the rolling or gliding process.
  • the dual tenter clip and table assemblies 10 of the invention comprise main and secondary tenter clip body carriages 22 , 32 having tenter clips 28 , 38 and tenter tables 26 , 36 capable of gripping the polymer material web 100 to be stretched, fixedly moving it along the longitudinal path and thereby stretching it at least in the transversal direction.
  • Such dual tenter clip and table assemblies 10 according to the invention were described above in all details in general and in relation to preferred embodiments thereof.
  • Such dual tenter clip and table assemblies may, hence, be used in accordance with the stretching plant and stretching device of the present invention, or in the process for stretching a polymer material web 100 , in the broadest sense or in their specifically preferred embodiments. Another detailed description thereof may be omitted here, and reference is made to the above description of the dual tenter clip and table assembly 10 of the invention.
  • the force by which the main and secondary tenter table and tenter clip carriages 22 , 32 are moved forward is usually transmitted by two endless chains 50 either of them moving in parallel to the rails 60 and driven by suitable driving means.
  • driving means are also well known to a person skilled in the present technical field and may suitably be selected in accordance with the requirements needed.
  • the driving means driving the endless chains 50 are sprocket wheels positioned at certain (usually the entrance and the exit) positions of the path of the endless chains 50 and driving the endless chains 50 under a control of the respective speeds.
  • Separate longitudinal stretching steps may be conducted before or after the step(s) of stretching of the polymer material sheet in the transverse direction, if desired, but are no essential step in the present process of stretching the polymer material web at least in the transverse direction.
  • the polymer material sheet or film 100 might be subjected, in a final releasing step, to a minor decrease of the polymer material sheet length in order to stabilize the mono-oriented polymer film.
  • the polymer web as stretched may be passed along another temperature adjusting means.
  • the purpose of this additional temperature adjusting means is a temperature adjustment of the polymer material web 100 or polymer film 100 after the stretching step to such a temperature “locking” the polymer (specifically the molecular polymer chains) to that status which they achieved during the stretching step, so as to prevent shrinking of the polymer sheet and allowing it to keep the mechanical and optical properties achieved by the stretching procedure.
  • the polymer material web 100 or polymer film 100 is either stored, e. g. by winding it onto a suitable storage roll, before it is further processed or used for the desired purpose, or is directly further processed, fed to subsequent plants or devices for further treatment (e. g. printing of images or text on one side of the polymer sheet) and used for the final purpose.
  • the present invention provides:

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CN104552910B (zh) * 2015-01-12 2017-01-11 青岛中科华联新材料股份有限公司 弹性轨道板
CN105799149B (zh) * 2016-04-26 2019-03-29 北京华腾佳和科技有限公司 一种链节组件、链条和降低纵向收缩率的薄膜拉伸装置
DE102017115175A1 (de) * 2017-07-06 2019-01-10 Brückner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG Gleitelement insbesondere für eine Reckanlage und/oder Transportkette sowie eine zugehörige Reckanlage oder Transportkette
DE102017117420A1 (de) 2017-08-01 2019-02-07 Brückner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG Reckanlage
CN112537012A (zh) * 2019-09-20 2021-03-23 青岛中科华联新材料股份有限公司 一种自动同步纠偏双拉机及其纠偏方法
KR102199603B1 (ko) * 2020-09-09 2021-01-07 주식회사 티씨엠에스 필름클립 및 이를 포함하는 분리막 제조를 위한 필름 연신장치

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US20140339728A1 (en) 2014-11-20
EP2803473B1 (en) 2016-04-13
CN104162979B (zh) 2017-04-12
IN2014DE01039A (cs) 2015-06-05
AR096308A1 (es) 2015-12-23
CN104162979A (zh) 2014-11-26
EP2803473A1 (en) 2014-11-19

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